Security agencies in Plateau have dissociated themselves from the State Government’s directive to enforce the law banning the operations of motorcycles in Jos and Bukuru.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Government on May 4 announced a total ban on motorcycle operations in Jos and Bukuru metropolis, citing the security situation in the State.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Abraham Yiljap, who briefed newsmen after an emergency State Executive Council meeting presided over by Gov. Jonah Jang, said the ban was with “immediate effect”.

Yiljap said: “discussions were held and a definite decision was taken that with immediate effect, the operations of “okada” as we know them, or motorcycle riding has been banned.

“This order is with immediate effect and that means the law enforcement agencies will be expected to comply by checking those who might want to disregard it in any way.”

However, security agencies in the State said that they were not part of the arrangement to enforce the ban and declared that they were not aware of the State Government’s directive.

The security agencies ignored the enforcement order as motorcyclists have continued their operations unhindered in the State capital since Thursday.

The Public Relations Officer of the Plateau Police Command, ASP Samuel Dabai told NAN that the State Government did not inform the Police authorities about the enforcement of the ban.

“We (police) are not aware of the directive by the State Government to enforce the ban on “okada’’ in Jos and Bukuru metropolis. We only heard it just like any other person heard it.

“As I am talking to you now, there has not been any official directive from the government to the Police Command to enforce the ban on motorcycles in the metropolis,” Dabai said.

The police spokesman said that the command could not clamp down on motorcyclists in the name of enforcing the ban when there was nothing to justify such action.

Capt. Mdahyelya Markus, Media Officer of the Special Task Force (STF) charged with maintaining security in the State also said that it was not aware of the directive to enforce the ban since it had not been directed to do so.

He told NAN that the outfit could not go out of its way to enforce the ban without a formal directive from the State Government.

Meanwhile, the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Operators and Riders Association of Nigeria, has appealed to Plateau Government to rescind its decision banning motorcycles operation.

The National President of Association, Alhaji Muhammad Maihula, said that the ban would throw thousands of its members into the unemployment market, which would worsen the security situation in the State. NAN